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id:
13

Title:
Is rewiring a house hard?

Content:
It is difficult to rewire a house. The difficulty stems from several factors. First, the wiring is usually in difficult to reach places: behind drywall, in the attic, under the floors. If you are going to rewire a house, you have to remove the wall covering and venture into cramped and often very hot places. In an Oklahoma summer, it's only possible to get into an attic at night or in the early morning, so there isn't a lot of time to work.

Second, you have to pull the wires through tiny holes and across the house from the breaker box. Copper wire may not seem like a difficult product, but 250 feet of it can be quite heavy. Carrying it in a cramped attic is hard because you have to maneuver over ceiling joists and duck rafters holding up the roof. You have to be careful not to rip the vinyl on the wood beams in attics or when pulling it through and around corner studs.

Third, it is a mental challenge. When you are rewiring a house, you need to plan thoroughly. Where are you going to put the outlets? How many outlets can you have on one circuit? Do you have enough room in your breaker box to accommodate the electrical load? How are you going to wire switches and/or outlets together on the same circuit?

Fourth, it takes a long time. It can take 30 minutes or more to rewire one outlet. It takes an hour to run a new wire across an attic or under the floor. You have to staple the wires to studs, strip wires, screw them to terminals. If you have to break into walls and ceilings to mount receptacle and switch boxes, you'll need to repair the damage later.

Fifth, it is scary. You really need to research and understand the problem and solution before you begin. If you make a mistake, you can shock yourself or die. After you've wired the house, a mistake could lead to a fire or shock hazard to yourself or your family. Get the right tools and do the job correctly so you minimize risks later on. There are circuit testers that you can plug into outlets to make sure they are wired correctly. They only cost about $5 at any hardware store and are well worth the money.

Sixth, it's expensive. Factor in all the costs you'll incur. A new breaker box is about $100. A GFCI outlet costs $10. You need them in all wet areas: kitchen, laundry, bathrooms and outside. Copper wire is $70 for 250 feet of 12-2 or $120 for 250 feet of 12-3. The costs can add up.

Seventh, it's dirty. The attic in our house is full of blown cellulose insulation and when I go up there and I'm sweaty the dust sticks to me. I come down looking like I've wallowed in a pig pen. Make sure you wear proper respirators, goggles and gloves to protect your health. I use a headlamp to free my hands to work in the dark areas.

So the difficulty in rewiring a house lies in the triple whammy: it's mentally, physically, and financially challenging. But it is also rewarding. Electricians make a lot of money for a reason.

You can do a lot of the work yourself and hire an electrician to come and do the rest. From what I have seen, the electricians who originally wired our house, or have rewired portions of it, didn't do that great a job. I know, because the circuit testers say the three pronged outlets aren't really grounded or the hot wire and neutral wire are switched. There are wires taped together without wire nuts and junction boxes to protect them from ware.

I'm not an electrician, but I know the work I'm doing is better than what is there now. As I continue to rewire my house, I read more books, I learn more, I research on the internet. As I work my way through this job, I learn better because I have a base of experience to help me understand what I'm reading and put it into context.

If you want to do the job right, stick to the NEC -- the code. The code has been built up over decades of trial and error. The insurance industry built the code originally because they wanted to make sure the homes they insured weren't going to burn down or hurt someone. Remember, the codes are the minimum, understand how to make your home even better than the code.

Take your time. If you are unsure of something, don't just wire it. Consult a book or leave that part of the task until you come across the answer. Look on the internet, but be careful what you read. It may be old and out of date. The NEC is updated regularly. Rewiring a house is something one once every few decades, so do it right. Don't rush. Don't do things incorrectly because you just want to get done. You could end up paying for it later with a burned down house.

Understand your fear. If you are afraid, it is because you don't know enough. Read and learn and research until you are confident -- not arrogant. Arrogance will get you killed when working with 240 volts of electricity.

What I say here may not apply to you. I have a background in computer engineering and circuit design. Proceed at your own risk -- or someone else's.

PostedBy:
P.J.

PostedOn:
6/27/2010 10:34:00 AM

Blurb:
If you're ever wondering if it is difficult to rewire a house, one word: Yes.

Keywords:
home, wiring, electrical, rewiring, remodelling

createdate:
6/27/2010 10:58:33 AM

createid:
tara

Category:
Electrical

Posted:
Y

Image: